Improvement in the construction of baskets



NITED STATES.

.IOEL A. H. ELLIs, OE SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT, AssIcNOR TO JOEL WOOD- 1RURY, TRUsTEE.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,970, dated April 7,1857.

.To LZZ whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, JOEL A. H. ELLIs, of Springeld, in the county ofWindsor and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful or ImprovedBasket; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described andrepresented in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, of which- Figure l is a vertical section of one of saidarticles; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of it; Fig. 3, aside elevation ofit; Fig. Il, a plan or top view of it.

The same letters refer to like parts in the different figures.

The Object I have had in view in the invention of my improved basket hasbeen to make one which would not only be strong, durable, light, andcheap, but such as could be depended on for correctly measuring grain,coal, and

manyother articles usually sold by measure.

As my basket is made on a form or mold, all constructed on such moldmust beof like capacity, and consequently more liable to afford correctmeasure than woven baskets made in the usual way.

In the drawings, A A A is a series of thin and widewooden slats, staves,or splints, of

` to a circular, oval, or such other form as may be required. Theyshould be placed one above the other in such manner that the grain ofeach may cross that of the other, and usually at or about at rightangles. The lower ends of the several splints A A are inserted betweenthese two pieces and confined there by means of wrought or annealednails, c c c, which should pass through both bottom pieces and eachsplint, and be clinched on the inner side of the inner bottom piece.

R It are two wooden hoops, one of which is placed inside of the other,and with the upper ends of the several splints extending upward betweenthem. These hoops are confined together and to the splints, which theyhold in place by means of a series of wrought nails,

b b b, driven through them and the splints, and clinched on theinside ofthe inner hoop in such a manner that each splint may have one or morenails passing through it.

W TV is a iiexible wire connection passing around the basket near themiddle of it, and so constructed as to be firmly attached to each splintand so as to connect it to that next adi jacent to it, therebyconnecting all of them together in such manner that when a heavypressure is received, either on the inner or outer side of any splint,such splint that receives the pressure may spring and yield to it untila sufficient number of the splints shall receive a portion of thepressure and afford sufficient resistance. The yielding of the splints,however, should be such that no opening *whereby` the contents of thebasket could escape may be made in the joints between the splints.

In constructing and applying the iiexible band or wire connection, itmay be formed of a series of wire hooks or staples, c c c, each beingput through the splints in such manner that one fork of the staple shallpass through one splint, while the other fork thereof passes through thenext adjacent splint, as shown in i the drawings. Thus two forks of twoseparate staples pass through each splint, each staple'being made to lapthe two next adjacent to it. Each of these staples should be of sufcientlength between its forks so as to nearly reach l'rom the outer edge ofone splint to theonter edge of the next adjoining splint and lap by thetwo adjacent staples. Thus, when pressure or strain is exerted on thishoop or series of staples, the tendency of the strain is to drawtogether the fibers of the timber of each splint rather than to pullthem apart and split the splint. These staples are secured in theirplaces and firmly attached to the splints by having their forks clinchedinward toward each other on the inside of th basket.

H H are the handles ofthe basket, made of wood or metal, bent in theform'of a bow, and attached to it by means of four or any othersuit-able number of staples, ff, embracing the legs of the handles anddriven through the splints and clinched onthe inside of the basket. Themold on which these baskets are to be formed should be Constructed of aproper forni A and with suitable appliances or means for oonning thebottom boards, staves, and hoops of a basket in place, while they arebeing applied and secured together, as specified.

I olaiml. The above-described new or improved manufacture of basket, asinade of vertical splints, two bottom boards,V top hoops, and' stapleoonneotions, or their equivalents, the whole being arranged and securedtogether, substantially as specified.

2. The arrangement of the staple-conne@ tions, Viz. so that eaoh oneshall lap on the two next adjacent it, the saine causing the fibers ofthe Wood of the splint to be drawn together by the strain of the load ofthe basket.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

JOEL A. H. ELLIS.

Vitnesses:

JOHN WARD, VM. H. ALLEN.

